It was at Ewood Park last year when Roy Hodgson's short-lived and much-maligned reign as Liverpool manager came to a crashing crescendo.

Mutiny was in the air in the away section on 5 January 2011. Liverpool fans, on the road, always sell out their allocation, but the 43 miles from L4 to BB2 saw just two-thirds of their away support make the trip. They, and Manchester United, are usually the only teams who ever fill the 7,000 allocation in the Darwen End at Ewood.

Martin Olsson's opener, followed by Benjani Mwaruwari's double, gave Blackburn a 3-0 lead until Steven Gerrard hit a consolation with under 10 minutes remaining. Some Liverpool supporters shoved others aside to move down nearer to pitch level to berate their failing players.

Hodgson was sacked three days later, and on the eve of the club's FA Cup third round tie against United at Old Trafford Kenny Dalglish returned to his beloved club and has held onto the reins ever since.

Dalglish returns to Anfield in the opposition's dugout, 1992/93 Premiership

And like Hodgson, Dalglish is returning to a club he previously managed. He is the only manager in the Riversiders' history to have guided them to the title of English champions - a feat accomplished 17 years ago next month, ironically at Anfield.

Although the 61-year-old Scot, unlike Hodgson, will not be placed under the guillotine after tonight's result, an execution is certainly not a remote possibility.

Unfortunate at the weekend not to have beaten Aston Villa despite dominating at Anfield, King Kenny's crown is slipping. His week will be judged on the outcome of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Everton, but the guilty verdict on league form was delivered long ago.

Eleven Premier League wins all season is as damning and revealing a statistic as Dalglish's £114.2m splurge on seven players. They have won one game more away than at Anfield this campaign, but Blackburn, reticent against Manchester United eight days ago despite sporadic opportunities, are expected to be more positive in their approach this evening.

Dalglish rejuvenated a flagging Blackburn 20 years ago

Dalglish's selection could aid Steve Kean's side. Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, undeniably Liverpool's two best players, are just two squad members who could be rested ahead of the weekend Merseyside derby in London.

Alexander Doni, stand in for the suspended Pepe Reina, will start again despite flapping at a cross on his debut at the weekend which resulted in Chris Herd's opener for the Villans. Daniel Agger, who played the last 14 minutes at Anfield on Saturday, is pushing for a start having returned from a six-week layoff.

A win for Rovers would elevate them out of the relegation zone and up to 16th in the table after three successive defeats against Bolton, United and West Brom. Martin Olsson suffered a shoulder injury at the Hawthorns and is the sole doubt for the blue and whites, who go in search of their sixth league win at Ewood this season.